Mariama Veronica Dumbuya

The Launch Of ARO

2009-09-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

07:09:09 Was the launch of the ARO website, and i feel so proud right now to see the semi-final product of this wonderful radio station. I say semi-final because ARO wants to give the viewers the opportunity to have their input on the final finish product for the site. So the new site will be available for only two weeks and after that we'll be going back to under construction, so that we can add all the improvements that the viewers feel we should make.

Right now, i'm really proud of the site, and i hope and pray that God continues to take ARO to higher heights. It's been a very long journey, but the journey has been worth it.

The new site is full of amazing features and shows, and the shows are something that everyone can relate to, ARO is all up to date, to relate to today's world, society and people. I just hope everyone else feels the same.

As for me, personally i feel so blessed and priviledge to be part of such a wonderful organisation, that consists of hard working individuals who have the same aims and focus in life.

So i just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who believed in ARO from day one, to all the dedicated listeners, the ARO web designer (u've done an excellent job), Hassan thank you so much for not givining up on your dreams. God is Good-all the time, all the time God is good.

I also want to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to never give up on themselves, remember that no condition is permanent and that delay does not mean denial. Trust me, im speaking from personal experience that's why i know and i believe that what ever you're going through, it's all gonna be ok. Believe in God and He'll be your guide and your constant friend.

That's all from me for now, till next time, remain blessed.

Salone bio

2009-08-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, it feels like i've been away for a very long time and i guess i have. I have a lot of catching up to do, i.e updating the blog regularly. I want to make it right, i guess in the past i was rushing everything so much that i made so much erros with my punctuality, so i promiss to do everything right this time.
Just to let you know this blog is about sharing the word of God and sharing my testimonies, which i pray will encourage others to never quit and to always have faith in God. On that note, i am proud to announce that we at African Radio Online will be publishing the new web site very soon. It's going to be hot, Sierra Leoneans are doing big things, trying to put Sierra Leone back on the map.
Well i have a show on African Radio Online call Maraculous Marie and it's an inspirational show, so please when ever anyone get a chance tune in and listen, and also your contributions and inputs are all welcome, so please feel free to get in contact with us.
I think i should just give a little information about Sierra Leone, for those that don't know.
Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa.
The country has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforst. Freetown is the capital, seat of government, and largest city. Bo is the second largest city. Other major cities in the country with a population over 100,000 are Kenema, Koidu Town and Makeni. The country is home to Fourah Bay College, the oldest university in West Africa, established in 1827. Sierra Leone is home to one of the largest natural harbours in the world, the Queen Elizabeth II Quay (also known as the QE II Quay and locally as the Deep Water Quay or Government Warf).
Sierra Leone is officially home to fifteen ethnic groups, each with its own language and costume; however, the two largest are the Mende and Temne each comprises 30% of the population. English is the official language of Sierra Leon spoken at schools, government administration and by the media. The Krio language (a language derived from English and several African languages and native to the Sierra Leone Krio people) is the most widely spoken language in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone. The Krio language is spoken by 97% of the Sierra Leone's population and unites all the different ethnic groups, especially in their trade and interaction with each other. Bengali was made an "official language" of Sierra Leone in order to honour the Bangladeshi peacekeeping force from the United Nations stationed there.
Early inhabitants of Sierra Leone included the Sherbro, Temne and Limba, and Tyra peoples, and later the Mende, who knew the country as Romarong, and the Kono who settled in the East of the country. In 1462, it was visited by the Portuguese explorer Pedro da Cintra, who gave it its name Serra de Leão, meaning 'Lion Mountains'. Sierra Leone became an important centre of the transatlantic trade in human beings (i.e., slaves), until 1792 when Freetown was founded by the Sierra Leone Company as a home for formerly enslaved African Americans. In 1808, Freetown became a British Crown Colony, and in 1896, the interior of the country became a British Protectorate; in 1961, the two combined and gained independence.
Over two decades of government neglect of the interior followed by the spilling over of the Liberian conflict into its borders eventually led to the Sierra Leone Civil War, which began in 1991 and was resolved in 2000 after the United Nations led by Nigeria defeated the rebel forces and restored the civilian government elected in 1998 to Freetown. Since then, almost 72,500 former combatants have been disarmed and the country has reestablished a functioning democracy. The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up in 2002 to deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 1996.
Well that's a short history about my sweet salone. Stay blessed.

African Radio Online

2009-02-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, i really need to be up to date with this blog thing, but i teach myself to get used to it. Well i really thank God adding another year to my life, i've just celebrated by b-day and it was wonderful, i really Thank God.

Finally things are taking shape, i've been trying to work things out with http://www.africanradioonline.com/ for a while now but there was so much obstacles to overcome, i.e finding the right equiptment so that i'll be able to broadcast my Christian radio show online from London, to the rest of the world. Well Hassan Bakarr has been great, he's been so busy trying to work things out and make it work basically. He spent his time and money calling me all the way from the U.S so that we can make something happen regarding the radio show. And at last today we made a breakthrough, and i'll do my very best to make him proud of his hard and wonderful job.

I know a lot of people have negative views about Sierra Leoneans and most of these views comes from Sierra Leoneans ourselves. But let me tell you, i am dealing with professional African men, and they are one of the best business minded people there are coming from Sierra Leone, and i thank God that He's has placed me in the hands of these wonderful people at http://www.africanradioonline.com/. And the world will get to bare witness to these things that i am writing about soon, so i just want to say a big thank you to Hassan, God bless you so much.

A couple of days ago i was speaking to someone that i thought was a friend and i was telling him of my wonderful ideas and palns, and he just killed it, he was talking all negative things about Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone people, and i hate that, and this dude is Sierra Leonean as well. I mean we have to believe in ourselves as a nation, and begin to work together, i've heard about what we as Sierra Leoneans do to each other, but there are also many of us who wants to see out country prosper, we need to at times leave all the negativity aside and focus on the future and how we can all contribute to make Sierra Leone the wonderful country it used to be. I believe in the impossible becoming possible, i mean, look at Nelson Mandela did he not became the first black President of South Africa, the wonderful inspirational speech from the late Martin Luther King Jr also came to pass, and now President Obama, the list will go on and on. So how can we think that Sierra Leone is not capable of coming back strong? I think not.

Any ways words of wisodm, one needs to be careful with whom they share their visions, desires, aims and dreams with, because some people are only good for destroying good things. Place your dreams into the hands of God and He alone will protect them and keep them safe for you.

Well hopefully very soon, i'll be on the radio talking about my first love Jesus. I am looking forwards too this and i can't wait. Till next time may the Lord guide, protect and keep us all in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Psalm 23:

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

This is one of my favourite psalms.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T16:40:00.000-08:00

Happy new year all, wow we're in 2009, how time flies. I really praise God for my life. On new year's eve i went to my church's watch night service and it was excellent. The word ministration was excellent, it was basically telling the congregation not to fear, as God is with us. That message touched me a lot, as a christian, born again to be exact, i have faced tremendous spiritual battles in my time. I can tell you a thing or two about trails and tribulstions, my whole life has been a battle. But Jesus never left me, nor did He forsake me and that's why i love him.
There's a song called "Love Him Like I Do" by Ruben Studdard, and there is a verse that says "i was in so much fear, that fear paralised me". That was me, i was so fearful of failing, when everything looked like it was going to crumbble i thought why Jesus, i questioned the Lord a lot, during my battles. And this fear came about because of people, the ones that scrutinise me on a daily basis, i could hear them talk at times, "ooh Jesus lover and notthing is going right for her, she must have done something bad in the eyes of God...though she goes to all these church look at her..." and there were many worse things that were said. It made me cry. I questioned where God was, i was in so much fear that i really did fear attending church, but the Lord taught me that all things work for my good and that the only thing that kept me going. My sister also is my biggest help, i remember when things weren't working well for me, and every body felt they had the right to be in my business and saying hurtful things about me, just knowing that i had my sister to rely on made it so much better.
I know there are many people going through fear, especially in the church, but my advise to you is not to leave you place of worship because of gossip folks, leave them to God, go to church and worhip God, because the Bible tells us that we should give thanks and praise always. Remeber that Christianity is not your relation with people, people at the church because they can't offer you what God can, but relationship is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
At times when i was faithless He was always faithful, and He also forgives, as there were times i even blamed Him for my trails, as i didn't see His plans for me through it all. It is said that the harder the battles, the sweeter the victories, and i sooo agree. One of the biggest battles of my life was my education, the enemy real tried me, but they did not succeed. You know brothers and sisters, delay does not mean denail-to God be the glory. I am now a graduate and it's because of the God i serve, and with that there are also sooo many opportunities coming my way. And i believe it is because God allowed me to go through the fire.
Because i know and believe in whom i trust, i know this is my harvest, and i have made a conscious decision to wipe away all the rubbish from my life. When i say rubbish, im talking the those takers, the ones that always one to take from me, use me and then pretend to like me when they really don't. But people forget that God does not like ugly, and ugly things always shows itself. So this year is about my Lord, me, my sis, mum, immediate family and close friends. So good riddins to bad rubbish.
I thank God for keeping me and my family safe at all times, my life will not be the same without them. I truely blessed to see 2009 as there are many people who are not fortunate enough to see it and may their souls rest in perfect peace. I pray that the good Lord continue to keep us all, guide and protect us. God bless.

My Sweet Salone

2008-12-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

As i seat on my sofa, listening to Lie Lie by Sahr Issa, i felt a heavy load on my shoulder, this is a load that is bigger than me, but i know for sure it's not bigger than God. I started to think about how good Sierra Leone used to be, where parents from such countries as Ghana and Nigeria used to send their children for the best education, because Sierra Leone was one of had the best education in the rest of Africa. I know we have one of the biggest natural resources such as iron, ore, gold and diamonds. But because of greed and the educated illitrates that has ruled out country for so long, they have lefted a big hole in the heart of Sierra Leone, which has resulted to my country being of the poorest country in the world. This makes me sad deeply, and i always cry when i think of the pain that my people endure every day. Oh my Lord, i can that only you can allows the youth and young people to come together (Sierra Leoenans) to build our country back up to the way it used to be. Sierra Leone is crying out for help and i am crying out for the condition of my country, i pray for the day when i can families have the essential amenities, such as clean water, toilet and a decent housing accomodation. As for myself i have big plans for my people back home, especially the children, my aim is to see every child in full time education, and for them not having to work in order for them to help their parents etc.
I am just wondering to myself, when are we as a country going to come together and act as a team and build our country together, i know that there are many like myself who share the same deams. And it's funny that the people who have this burning desire to help our country are the ones who are not financially there yet, and the ones who are financially able, they're all bout me, myself and i, but charity begins and home, and the Bible tells us that we should give and more will be added unto us.
I mean we have had soooo many governments come and go and it's like they've used the money to help themselves and their families, sending their children to private schools out of Sierra Leone and sending their wives and the rest of their family members on a shopping spree to place like the UK and USA. In my years of studying about my presidents since we gained our independence, i have not seen any good thing come out of them, in fact they have left Sierra Leone in bondage, and now the people, the innocent people are the victims of poverty.
But i must congratulate artists such as Emmerson and their many others, who are not sacred to sing about the situation of the country's development, in one of Emmerson's songs' he reffered to these politicians as sons of the devil, and i know that many people know what he meant when he sang such lyrics.
My heart is in so much pain for my sweet Salone, i pray, hope and dream about the day when i'll be able to make a big change in the lives of my people, where they won't have to worry about what they'll eat or paying for school fees for their children. Please Lord, so help me Jesus, use me as a vessel that will again bring hope to my people who love and praise you name in good and bad times.
Salone by God en power we go mak am ya, mak we pray an trus Jesus Christ. Love, Peace and Happiness.

Aschobi Designs

2008-12-26T11:46:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know about Aschobi designs, you need to get to know, i am so proud of this young Sierra Leone woman, who is not only talented, but also intelligent and smart. We usually see fashion designs going to New York, London and Paris to sell their designs, but this young lady came back home, that's right people, back home to Sierra Leone to sell her designs, which has it many advantages, such as creating jobs for people in Sierra Leone and also allowing the world to see that Sierra Leone does not only have beauty but it also has talents. And i believe Adama Kai is the definition of talents.
I am truely touched that Sierra Leoneans all over the world are coming back home to do great things for their country, their home sweet home. I know and believe that once again, Sierra Leone is going to be at the top of the world. So Lord bless those that are doing their part to see such good things come out from Sierra Leone.

To know more about this wonderful young lady, you can click on the above link and the access is yours, but here is a brief story of the leading lady...

ASCHOBI DESIGNS by ADAMA KAIAdama Kargbo is a 24yr old Sierra Leonean-American recent graduate of Parsons School of Design (Paris, France). She has recently returned to Sierra Leone from New York City to launch her first collection; ASCHOBI DESIGNS. This collection gives a modern twist to vintage 1960s African couture. Although she could have launched her collection anywhere, Adama chose her ancestral home as the birth place of ASCHOBI because of her unshakeable conviction in the rebirth and redevelopment of this country. This initial collection is a celebration of the career minded African woman who balances family, community, and work obligations with grace, elegance, and beauty. In short, the ASCHOBI woman is Maya Angelou's phenomenal woman.

Happy Christ-Mas

2008-12-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

I know i'm a day late but i still want to wish you all a happy Christ-mas. I pray that God answers all your prayer requests this christmas and bless you with gifts that no man can give.
Christmas was good, i thank God because i had food to eat and people to share it with. Wow the year is soon ending, it seems like everything just flew by so fast, it's so scary that the time just goes by so quickly. Because of this reason, it inspired me to get more closer to God as the days are unpredictable and one never know what will happen. I love the Lord so much peps, with Him life makes so much sense and with out Him life is not worth living.
I am wishing you a wonderful holiday, stay bless all.

My Dream

2008-12-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

My name is Mariama Veronica Dumbuya, originally from Sierra Leone- West Africa. My aims and objectives in life are to be one of the best black African women personalities in the media industry that will encourage and give hope to other people, that they can achieve anything in life and that the sky is not the limit. My focus in life is to do ground breaking documentaries about Africa and the seriousness of poverty in Africa and the rest of the world. So Channel 4, BBC, SKY get in contact with me, I am ready.
I aim to be one of the blessed ones' who will carry the torch that my ancestors have fought so hard for; in order to show that black is not only beautiful but also knowledgeable and intelligent. I dream of establishing my own organisations in Sierra Leone which would focus on helping those who are less fortunate, and creating jobs for the jobless (Charity begins @ home). As a Sierra Leonean growing up in the UK, I came to understand that I was very fortunate and blessed to escape a terrible war that killed so much of my brothers and sisters. The aftermath was devastating to me, families, friends and many others, especially realising that people I grew up with where either killed, raped or drugged. This has left a big scar in my heart, and so I vowed to do my part and do my very best to help restore the lives of those that where effected by the war, be it building homes for the less fortunate, school for those that cannot afford to pay for their education and providing basic amenities for my people. I am very passionate about my homeland Sierra Leone and my continent. Being able to witness the remarkable presidential election of BARACK OBAMA in the USA has increased my faith to know that dreams should never be killed but to be pursued as nothing is impossible with Jesus Christ.
Well this site is for anyone and everyone. Especially my fellow Sierra Leonean, my Jesus followers, the youth and those special people that know that nothing is impossible with God.
Well as for me, I am one of those individual who believe and follow in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and I want to use this opportunity to share my love for Jesus, and to also share my aims and ambitions that I and many others have for my home town, Sierra Leone. So I hope and pray that by me doing this, I'll be making you all proud by all the different topics that I’ll be discussing. Everyone is free to add their contributions and ideas.
Just like Barack Obama, I too believe in change, achieving the impossible, and making history. With the grace of God these aims of mine and yours can be achieved, In Jesus' Name, Amen. I am pleading to all the young people, especially my African brothers and sisters; let’s not forget where we came from, because if we do, we’ll never know where we are going. Africa is crying, and only we can wipe its tears.

Welcome

2008-12-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

Ok, here i go...God is good-all the time-all the time, God is good. Man i love being an African, it doesn't matter the state of our condition, Africans will always praise God through it. I guess it's because we know that nothing is possible without God.
So here i go, this i know is the start of a very exciting future, i know when i make it big, like Oprah or Obama, thousands of people will google my name and this will be one of the first things that will pop up, lol. But for real, i've learned to dream big and not to limit myself, i believe in myself and i know that all of my heart's desire will come to pass in JESUS' NAME. No deamon will ever stop that from coming to pass. Because great is He that's in Me than that which is in the world.
I am a family orientated sort of person, i love my family very much and i want to give them the best things in life, my sister is my best friend and without her, i truely don't know what i'll do. God is good man. My mum is our rock, she's the best single mother any child or children can have, she's hard working, loyal, giving and honest. That's where my sister and I get our wonderful characteristic from.
I need to let y'll know about the goodness of God, i am the living truth that Jesus Christ is Lord, i am the difinition of the impossible dream-being possible. But i'll share my testimonies with you as time goes by.
A quick note to who ever is reading this, i just want to encourage you that you should never give up, even though the battles are hard, the good Lord tells us that the harder the battles, the sweeter the victories. So don't give up please, don't give your enemies the opportunity to rejoice over you, you have the power to destroy them, and do it in Jesus' Name.
Good night and sweet dreams, i'll be back tomorrow by the Grace of God. Night-night and sweet dreams.